Population 15,165 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Fort Lewis: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Fort Lewis
Household size in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.55 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.66 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.42 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.05 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.50 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Fort Lewis is a place of big households: 3.05 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has dropped from 3.55 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 20.0 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 22.1 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 21.8 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 21.8, Fort Lewis is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 17.7, mirroring the country. Only one other Washington city with 5,000+ people is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Fort Lewis: 27.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.5 points, mirroring the country. Fort Lewis has the highest share of single-parent households of any Washington city with 5,000+ people.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fort Lewis
Renters in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.5% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 98.9% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 98.4% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 98.9% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Fort Lewis: 98.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 54.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Only one other Washington city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Fort Lewis: 19.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 4.4 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Fort Lewis was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,282 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,341 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,689 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,237 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$955 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fort Lewis costs $2,237 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $955 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 48.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fort Lewis
Bachelor's degrees in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.4% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Fort Lewis: 24.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.1% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.9% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.3% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.6% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Fort Lewis: 97.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 219 Washington cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fort Lewis
| Period | Fort Lewis | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.7 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.2%, unemployment in Fort Lewis is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 8.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fort Lewis compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lewis | 3.05 | 21.8 | 27.0% | 98.9% | 19.5% | 1983 | $2,237 | 24.4% | 97.6% | 5.2% |
| North Fort Lewis | 3.57 | 23.9 | 2.4% | 99.2% | 3.3% | 2002 | $2,475 | 26.9% | 96.8% | 11.9% |
| Tillicum | 3.00 | 23.7 | 18.7% | 99.9% | 8.6% | 1986 | $2,295 | 19.2% | 90.1% | 6.2% |
| Dupont | 2.80 | 32.9 | 6.0% | 38.5% | 3.6% | 2002 | $2,366 | 51.8% | 95.3% | 5.6% |
| Steilacoom | 2.44 | 41.7 | 7.8% | 33.7% | 5.1% | 1979 | $2,041 | 46.9% | 92.7% | 6.6% |
| Lakewood | 2.43 | 39.5 | 12.1% | 52.9% | 8.8% | 1976 | $1,672 | 23.4% | 88.2% | 5.6% |
| Mckenna | 2.97 | 38.1 | 25.5% | 14.4% | 7.4% | 1991 | $1,267 | 19.6% | 92.6% | 5.3% |
| Nisqually Indian Community | 2.50 | 50.0 | 13.0% | 16.0% | 21.0% | 2003 | $875 | 24.9% | 92.5% | 14.5% |
| Anderson Island | 1.77 | 61.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 26.3% | 1993 | $1,733 | 44.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Parkland | 2.70 | 36.8 | 14.1% | 48.9% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,655 | 19.1% | 90.2% | 6.3% |
| University Place | 2.59 | 40.1 | 9.3% | 44.6% | 5.9% | 1980 | $1,987 | 41.2% | 95.3% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mahomet, IL · Rantoul, IL · Prichard, AL · Ponte Vedra Beach, FL · Polk City, FL · Melvindale, MI · Mashpee, MA · Marumsco, VA · Martin, TN · Marshfield, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fort Lewis. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.